GP leaders have set out a comprehensive list of requests GPs should ‘decline’ and send back to hospitals in a bid to tackle workload dump, Pulse reported.
But some have remarked that the work will instead fall to salaried GPs and GP locums.
On the list published by Humberside LMC, items include:
- Finding/reviewing results of tests and investigations ordered by other professionals.
- Requests to undertake blood tests shortly after hospital discharge.
- Use of referral forms.
- Requests to provide or extend a fit note for a patient, by another healthcare professional.
- Requests to commence shared care.
One GP commented: “Besides requests to undertake shared care, we shouldn’t actually do any of these things anyway… We are not a problem-solving service. If a patient has an issue because another service hasn’t fulfilled their role, that’s not for us to solve.
“NHS colleagues (physios, clinics, RACOP, A&E, radiology) have clear boundaries about what is and isn’t their role to undertake, and happily decline anything that isn’t within their remit, as they should do, it’s appropriate. GPs need to do the same and stop feeling like, ‘if I don’t do it it won’t get done’.”
The list has been published in addition to the BMA’s own proposals for work to stop, limit or freeze during collective action.
Dr Richard Fieldhouse, NASGP chair, said: “For salaried GPs, it may be worth refreshing your memory around what your contract stipulates your workload is, and if you are unable to fulfil workload assigned to you that’s outside your contract, to notify your employer straight away, keeping clear notes when doing so. Any expected work outside the contract should then attract overtime, or time off in lieu.
“And for GP locums, especially if you’re using LocumDeck’s recommended terms and conditions, any such work outside the scope of your agreement would again attract a pro rata rate for this extra work.
“Any practice that is participating in the current industrial action is doing so because it understands that all GPs should be paid appropriately for what they do, so in the unlikely event that they forget this, I’m sure a gentle reminder will do the trick.”